China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, recently claimed that his country is a force for peace and stability in the world, despite provoking its neighbors and fueling trade tensions. However, a closer look at Beijing’s actions reveals a more complex reality.
While China has been accused of aggression by its regional neighbors and critics worldwide, Wang Yi’s comments downplay the frictions caused by Chinese industrial policy, which has flooded the global market with cheap goods, fueled massive trade imbalances, and strained relations with countries like Taiwan. The country’s air force regularly threatens Taiwan’s self-governed island, while its navy conducts live-fire exercises near Australia and Vietnam.
Wang Yi’s rhetoric also conveniently overlooks China’s own military aggression in the South China Sea, where Chinese Coast Guard ships have been known to ram and swipe at Philippine vessels enforcing Beijing’s disputed claims. His portrayal of China as a victim of American aggression plays well with the domestic audience but ignores the country’s own role in the global trade tensions.
Furthermore, Wang Yi acknowledged that China’s economy faces deep-rooted problems, including high youth unemployment, rising government debt, and a real estate crisis, which have wiped out significant amounts of household wealth. The ongoing trade spat between China and the US has further exacerbated these issues.
In his comments, Wang Yi emphasized the need for great powers to fulfill their international obligations and not prioritize profits over cooperation. However, he failed to address China’s own role in undermining global stability by pursuing its interests above all else.
Despite China’s tough rhetoric on trade and military aggression, Beijing is seeking engagement with the US through talks as equals. The country’s commerce minister recently reached out to his American counterparts to invite them to meet, suggesting a willingness to find common ground and resolve tensions.
As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear whether Wang Yi’s words are a genuine attempt to promote peace and stability or just a clever propaganda tactic designed to mask China’s aggressive behavior. One thing is certain – China’s actions speak louder than its rhetoric.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/world/asia/china-tariffs-us-trump.html